[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70603-70606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-23991]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


MMS Information Collection Activities: 1010-0082 (30 CFR 282), 
Submitted for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of a reinstatement of an information collection (1010-
0081).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we 
are notifying the public that we have submitted to OMB an information 
collection request (ICR) to renew approval of the paperwork 
requirements in the regulations under 30 CFR 282, Operations in the 
Outer Continental Shelf for Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur. 
This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on 
the paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements.

DATES: Submit written comments by January 11, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments either by fax (202) 395-6566 or e-
mail ([email protected]) directly to the Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for the Department 
of the Interior (1010-0081). Mail or hand carry a copy of your comments 
to the Department of the Interior; Minerals Management Service; 
Attention: Cheryl Blundon; Mail Stop 4024; 381 Elden Street; Herndon, 
Virginia 20170-4817. If you wish to e-mail your comments to MMS, the 
address is: [email protected]. Reference Information Collection 
1010-0081 in your subject line and mark your message for return 
receipt. Include your name and return address in your message text.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Blundon, Regulations and 
Standards Branch, (703) 787-1607. You may also contact Cheryl Blundon 
to obtain a copy, at no cost, of the regulations that require the 
subject collection of information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 30 CFR 282, Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf for 
Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0081.
    Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act, as amended 
(43 U.S.C. 1334 and 43 U.S.C. 1337(k)), authorizes the Secretary of the 
Interior (Secretary) to implement regulations to grant to the qualified 
persons, offering the highest cash bonus on a basis of competitive 
bidding, leases of any mineral other than oil, gas, and sulphur. This 
applies to any area of the Outer Continental Shelf not then under lease 
for such mineral upon such royalty, rental, and other terms and 
conditions as the Secretary may prescribe at the time of offering the 
area for lease. This regulation governs mining operations within the 
OCS for minerals other than oil, gas and sulphur and establishes a 
comprehensive leasing and regulatory program for such minerals. These 
regulations have been designed to (1) recognize the differences between 
the OCS activities associated with oil, gas, and sulphur discovery and 
development, and those associated with

[[Page 70604]]

the discovery and development of other minerals; (2) facilitate 
participation by States directly affected by OCS mining activities; (3) 
provide opportunities for consultation and coordination with other OCS 
users and uses; (4) balance development with environmental protection; 
(5) insure a fair return to the public; (6) preserve and maintain free 
enterprise competition; and (7) encourage the development of new 
technology.
    Regulations implementing these responsibilities are under 30 CFR 
part 282. Responses are mandatory. No questions of a ``sensitive'' 
nature are asked. We protect proprietary information according to the 
Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing 
regulations (43 CFR 2), and 30 CFR 282.5, 282.6, and 282.7 and 
applicable sections of 30 CFR parts 280 and 281.
    The MMS would use the information required by 30 CFR 282 to 
determine if lessees are complying with the regulations that implement 
the mining operations program for minerals other than oil, gas, and 
sulphur. Specifically, MMS would use the information:
     To ensure that operations for the production of minerals 
other than oil, gas, and sulphur in the OCS are conducted in a manner 
that will result in orderly resource recovery, development, and the 
protection of the human, marine, and coastal environments.
     To ensure that adequate measures will be taken during 
operations to prevent waste, conserve the natural resources of the OCS, 
and to protect the environment, human life, and correlative rights.
     To determine if suspensions of activities are in the 
national interest, to facilitate proper development of a lease 
including reasonable time to develop a mine and construct its 
supporting facilities, or to allow for the construction or negotiation 
for use of transportation facilities.
     To identify and evaluate the cause(s) of a hazard(s) 
generating a suspension, the potential damage from a hazard(s) and the 
measures available to mitigate the potential for damage.
     For technical and environmental evaluations which provide 
a basis for MMS to make informed decisions to approve, disapprove, or 
require modification of the proposed activities.
    There has been no activity in the OCS for minerals other than oil, 
gas, and sulphur for many years and no information collected since we 
allowed the OMB approval to expire in 1991. However, because these are 
regulatory requirements, the potential exists for information to be 
collected and we are requesting that OMB reinstate this collection of 
information.
    Frequency: Monthly, and as a result of situations encountered.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: There are no 
active respondents; therefore, we estimated the potential annual number 
of respondents to be one.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The 
estimated annual hour burden for this information collection is a total 
of 201 hours. The following chart details the individual components and 
estimated hour burdens. In calculating the burdens, we assumed that 
respondents perform certain requirements in the normal course of their 
activities. We consider these to be usual and customary and took that 
into account in estimating the burden.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                               Non-hour cost burden
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
      Citation 30 CFR 282          Reporting or recordkeeping                     Average nunber
                                           requirement              Hour burden     of  annual     Annual burden
                                                                                     responses         hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Subpart A--General
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4(b); 12(b)(2)(ii); 12(f)(l),   Submit delineation plan,                      40               1              40
 (2); 13(d), (e)(2); 21; 22;     including environmental
 25; 26; 28.                     information, contingency plan,
                                 monitoring program, and various
                                 requests for approval referred
                                 to throughout; submit
                                 modifications.
4(c); 12(c)(2)(ii); 12(f)(l),   Submit testing delineation plan,              40               1              40
 (2); 13(d), (e)(2); 21; 23;     including environmental
 25; 26; 28.                     information, contingency plan,
                                 monitoring program, and various
                                 requests for approval referred
                                 to throughout; submit
                                 modifications.
4(d); 12(d)(2)(ii); 12(f)(1),   Submit mining delineation plan,               40               1              40
 (2); 13(d), (e)(2); 21; 24;     including environmental
 25; 26; 28.                     information, contingency plan,
                                 monitoring program, and various
                                 requests for approval referred
                                 to throughout; submit
                                 modifications.
5.............................  Request non-disclosure of G&G                 10               1              10
                                 info.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal....................................................................               4             130
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Subpart B--Jurisdiction and Responsibilities of Director
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11(c); 12(c)..................  Apply for right-of-use and                    30               1              30
                                 easement.
11(d); 12(d)..................  Request consolidation of two or                1               1               1
                                 more OCS mineral leases or
                                 portions.
                                                                 --------------------------------
12(f)(1), (h); 20(g), (h).....  Request approval of operations         Burden included with                    0
                                 or departure from operating           applicable operation
                                 requirements.
                                                                 --------------------------------
13(b), (f)(2); 31.............  Request suspension or temporary                2               1               2
                                 prohibition or production or
                                 operations.
13(e)(1)......................  Submit site-specific study plan                8               1               8
                                 and results; request payment.
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------

[[Page 70605]]

 
                                                                           1 study x $100,000 = $100,000
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
14............................  Submit ``green'' response copy                 2               1               2
                                 of Form MMS-1832 indicating
                                 date violations (INCs)
                                 corrected.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal....................................................................               5              43
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             Subpart C--Obligations and Responsibilities of Lessees
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20(a), (g); 29(i).............  Make available all mineral             Burden included with                    0
                                 resource or environmental data        applicable operation
                                 and information; submit reports
                                 and maintain records.
                                                                 --------------------------------
20(b) thru (e)................  Submit designation of payor,                   1               1               1
                                 operator, or local
                                 representative; submit changes.
21(d).........................  Notify MMS of preliminary                      1               1               1
                                 activities.
27(b).........................  Request use of new or                          1               1               1
                                 alternative technologies,
                                 techniques, etc.
27(c).........................  Notify MMS of death or serious                 1               1               1
                                 injury; fire, exploration, or
                                 other hazardous event; submit
                                 report.
27(d)(2)......................  Request reimbursement for                      2               1               2
                                 furnishing food, quarters, and
                                 transportation for MMS
                                 representatives (OCS Lands Act
                                 specifies reimbursement; no
                                 requests received in many
                                 years; minimal burden).
27(e).........................  Identify vessels, platforms,                   1               1               1
                                 structures, etc. with signs.
27(f)(2)......................  Log all drill holes susceptible                3               1               3
                                 to logging; submit copies of
                                 logs to MMS.
27(h)(3), (4).................  Mark equipment; record items                   1               1               1
                                 lost overboard; notify MMS.
29(a).........................  Submit monthly report of                       1               1               1
                                 minerals produced.
29(b), (c)....................  Submit quarterly status and                    5               1               5
                                 final report on exploration and/
                                 or testing activities.
29(d).........................  Submit results of environmental                5               1               5
                                 monitoring activities.
29(e).........................  Submit marked and certified maps               1               1               1
                                 annually or as required.
29(f).........................  Maintain rock, minerals, and                   1               1               1
                                 core samples for 5 years and
                                 make available upon request.
29(g).........................  Maintain original data and                     1               1               1
                                 information and navigation
                                 tapes as long as lease is in
                                 effect and make available upon
                                 request.
29(h).........................  Maintain hard mineral records                  1               1               1
                                 and make available upon request.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal....................................................................              15              26
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Subpart D--Payments
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40............................  Submit surety or personal bond..               2               1               2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Subpart E--Appeals
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50; 15........................  File an appeal..................     Burden exempt under 5 CFR                 0
                                                                         1320.4(a)(2), (c)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total Burden............................................................              25            Hour
                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          $100,000 Non-Hour Cost Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: We 
have identified one cost burden; Sec.  282.13(e)(1), would require a 
site-specific study to determine and evaluate hazards that result in a 
suspension of operation. Since a study has never been done previously, 
MMS estimates that this study would cost approximately $100,000. There 
are no other non-hour cost burdens associated with the collection of 
information.
    Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) 
provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of 
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. 
Until OMB approves a

[[Page 70606]]

collection of information, you are not obligated to respond.
    Comments: Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et 
seq.) requires each agency ``* * * to provide notice * * * and 
otherwise consult with members of the public and affected agencies 
concerning each proposed collection of information * * *'' Agencies 
must specifically solicit comments to: (a) Evaluate whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the agency to 
perform its duties, including whether the information is useful; (b) 
evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) enhance the quality, 
usefulness, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) 
minimize the burden on the respondents, including the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    To comply with the public consultation process, on August 8, 2007, 
we published a Federal Register notice (72 FR 44570) announcing that we 
would submit this ICR to OMB for approval. The notice provided the 
required 60-day comment period. In addition, Sec.  282.0 provides the 
OMB control number for the information collection requirements imposed 
by the 30 CFR 282 regulations. The PRA (5 U.S.C. 1320) informs the 
public that they may comment at any time on the collection of 
information and MMS provides the address to which they should send 
comments. We have received no comments in response to these efforts.
    If you wish to comment in response to this notice, you may send 
your comments to the offices listed under the ADDRESSES section of this 
notice. The OMB has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove the 
information collection but may respond after 30 days. Therefore, to 
ensure maximum consideration, OMB should receive public comments by 
January 11, 2008.
    Public Availability of Comments: Before including your address, 
phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information 
in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--
including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly 
available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold 
your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    MMS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Arlene Bajusz, (202) 
208-7744.

    Dated: October 12, 2007.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. E7-23991 Filed 12-11-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P